Friends rally support for Saugus Essex Street fire victim

Thursday

Friends have established a Go Fund Me page to support an Essex Street resident who was seriously injured and lost all his possessions as a result of a kitchen fire.

Local fisherman George Mabee suffered third-degree burns to his arms and head when a fire ignited in his Essex Street apartment on July 29.

Josef Koch, who owns Saugus cleaning and restoration services business Clean Joe Inc., started a Go Fund Me page to try to help his longtime friend Mabee financially as he focuses on recovering from his injuries.

“It’s horrible what happened,” Koch said. “He is wrapped up in bandages and in pretty rough shape.”

Mabee is currently staying at a family member’s home in town as he recuperates, Koch said. His burns are preventing him from working as a commercial fisherman, making finances tight.

Anyone interested in making a donation to assist Mabee can go to www.gofundme.com/george-mabee.

Koch told the Advertiser Mabee is one of the true really good people he has met in town. He stressed that he is fortunate to call him a friend.

“If I call for a favor he will help without thinking,” Koch said. “He has done this many times. And then you see something like this happen to him. I hope this [Go Fund Me page] blows up and it helps him to get back on his feet.”